Otome Road - Japanese Encyclopedia

A Mecca For Otaku Girls - Otome Road

Famous among anime and manga fans, this spot in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, known as "Otome Road" has become an area of interest among otaku culture enthusiasts in Japan, as well as visitors and students from abroad. After becoming a center of Japanese subculture, it has become a popular place to visit in Tokyo. In this article, we will explain what Otome Road is and why it draws in so many fans.

Where Is Otome Road?

Right by Ikebukuro Station on the JR Yamanote line, after getting out of the East exit, you will see a busy street leading toward the symbol of Ikebukuro, the Sunshine 60 building. Ikebukuro is full of people, but those visiting this spot for the first time may be surprised at the number of girls and ladies that make up the majority of the crowd. That is due to the many shops carrying manga and anime merchandise in this area of east Ikebukuro. This approximate 200-meter block of shops is called Otome Road and is considered to be the must-go place for fujoshi (*1). Although it may look like a row of normal buildings, the shops on this street are actually filled with
manga and anime goods. *1 Fujoshi (腐女子): Female anime and manga fans.

The History and Features of Otome Road

For a while, Ikebukuro was an area that carried many anime and manga related goods, just like Nakano and Akihabara. However, after the manga and anime goods shop called animate (main branch) went through a renovation, even more otaku (anime, manga and game fans) began to gather in Ikebukuro. Especially after the increase of ladies that have an interest in boys love (*2) and doujin fan comics gathering to this area, this street has been referred to as the Otome Road. "Otome" in Japanese is a term referring to young ladies. Unlike the other otaku-centric areas, this area mainly carries items geared toward the female audience. While they do have goods and books for male fans, the shops on Otome Road carry more merchandise aimed at girls. *2 Boys Love: A genre focusing on the love between two men.

The Appeal of Otome Road

Many of the girls who visit Otome Road are searching for character goods of their favorite manga or anime character, as well as for costumes or wigs for their cosplay. In addition, Sunshine City also has many cute and budget friendly clothes shops. Therefore, many non-anime or manga fans come to shop around this area as well. Inside Sunshine City, there are indoor theme parks with limited time events that draw in many manga fans as well.

An Underground Butler Cafe In The Depths Of Otome Road

Tucked away in a corner by a convenience store, there is a well-known butler cafe that is popular among the regulars of Otome Road. While Akihabara is known for the maid cafes, where girls dress as maids, Swallowtail is a popular butler cafe operated by men who are dressed as butlers in Ikebukuro. You will be treated here as if you have returned to your own mansion. Due to the limit of space and time slots, it is advised to make reservations from their website (Japanese) in advance. At the cafe, you will be able to enjoy savory, deli-style dishes with tea or a special British-style afternoon tea set. For about 3,000 yen you will be able to experience being treated like a high-class lady (or gentleman). It would be a very unique place for visitors to stop by.

The Future Of Otome Road

As you can see, the Otome Road is an area focused on Japanese anime and manga. Being featured in the Cool Japan movement, we assume it will gain more spotlight, just like the kawaii culture of Harajuku. Sunshine 60, which is fairly close to Otome Road, is also a family-friendly spot with many facilities such as an aquarium and a planetarium. Whether you are a manga or anime fan or not, why not stop by to explore the Otome Road in Higashi Ikebukuro?